The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 26, 2001
Filed:
Jul. 28, 1999
Applicant:
Inventors:
Joseph B. Nadol, Jr., Needham, MA (US);
Saumil N. Merchant, Acton, MA (US);
Assignee:
Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
A61F 2/18 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
A61F 2/18 ;
Abstract
This invention relates to surgical methods and prosthetic devices for ameliorating hearing loss in patients having ailments of the middle ear. The prosthetic device of the invention includes at least a synthetic gas-filled balloon having a pliant membrane of biocompatible material. The surgical method of the invention places the synthetic balloon in the patient's middle ear in contact with the tympanic membrane to restore tympanic membrane motion so as to enhance transfer of sound through the middle ear to the inner ear of the patient.